In every Virginia
gubernatorial election from 1977 to 2009, the
political party of the President at the time lost the election, even when the state of Virginia had strongly voted for the President in question.[3] However, this pattern was broken in the 2013 election,[4] with McAuliffe's victory during
Barack Obama's second term as president. This was the first Virginia gubernatorial election since 1965 in which no candidate won an outright majority of the vote.[5]

Candidates

Republican Party

Lieutenant GovernorBill Bolling, elected to the post in 2005, made a deal with McDonnell whereby Bolling would run for re-election as lieutenant governor in
2009, enabling McDonnell to run for governor without a primary, in exchange for McDonnell's support in 2013. After the 2009 election, Bolling made no secret of his intention to run for governor in 2013, while
Attorney General of VirginiaKen Cuccinelli openly stated that he was considering three options: a run for re-election as attorney general in 2013, running for the U.S. Senate in 2014, and running for governor in 2013.[6] Cuccinelli announced to colleagues on December 1, 2011, that he was indeed running for governor.[7] Bolling responded on the same day that he was disappointed that Cuccinelli decided to challenge him.[8]

Bolling, who was polling poorly against Cuccinelli, withdrew from the race on November 28, 2012. He cited the Republican Party's decision to move to a nominating convention rather than hold a primary. He ruled out running for another term as Lieutenant Governor and refused to endorse Cuccinelli.[9] Bolling considered running as an independent, but decided against it.[10] Bolling also rejected the possibility of a
write-in campaign.[11]

Sarvis' campaign submitted over 17,000 signatures to meet the
Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE) requirement of 10,000 valid signatures.[28] On June 26, 2013, the SBE confirmed to Sarvis' campaign that he would be listed on the ballot statewide during the elections this November.[29] This made Sarvis the fourth minor party gubernatorial nominee to get on the Virginia ballot in 40 years.[28]

Salahi planned to seek the Republican nomination, but left the party to launch an independent bid.[35] However, he failed to submit the necessary signatures to the
Virginia State Board of Elections by the June 11, 2013, deadline and did not appear on the ballot as an independent. He transitioned his run into a
write-in campaign and said he would pursue a congressional seat if he didn't win the governorship.[36][37] Salahi also scheduled to have a film document his campaign by Campbell Media Group, but the production company faced legal allegations.[38]

Declined

General election

Debates and forums

Cuccinelli challenged McAuliffe to a series of 15 debates around the state.[39] McAuliffe refused, and called Cuccinelli's challenge "absurd"[40] and a "gimmick".[41] Cuccinelli responded, "McAuliffe's campaign might have dismissed the challenge, but it's clear that community leaders and Virginians share our desire to hold real debates across the Commonwealth."[42]

Both candidates agreed to participate in three debates: July 20, 2013, in
Hot Springs, sponsored by the
Virginia Bar Association; September 25, 2013, in
McLean, sponsored by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and broadcast by
NBC affiliates throughout Virginia;[43] and a third debate on October 24, 2013, at
Virginia Tech.[44]

Cuccinelli declined to appear at the League of Women Voters/AARP debate, calling it a "left-wing, stacked debate".[45] Cuccinelli accepted a debate invitation in
Danville for a date in September or October; McAuliffe did not respond.[40]

McAuliffe and his campaign repeatedly declined to give a cost for his spending priorities, stating he would pay for them through unspecified government efficiency improvements, the Medicaid expansion, and federal money from
Obamacare.[52] McAuliffe said tax increases would not be on the table to pay for policy proposals.[53] Cuccinelli's 2013 campaign conducted an analysis that found McAuliffe's spending plan would cost at least $14 billion – including $12 billion in new spending – over a four-year term and would translate into a $1,700 tax hike on the average Virginia family.[52][54][55] McAuliffe's campaign accused Cuccinelli's campaign of "fabricat[ing]" the numbers.[56]

Virginia Farm Bureau forum

Cuccinelli and McAuliffe discussed their plans for Virginia's largest industry, agriculture and forest products, on Friday, August 2, 2013, at
Wytheville Community College in
Wytheville, Virginia. The candidates also discussed topics including transportation and healthcare. The forum was hosted by the
Farm Bureau's Young Farmers Committee. Libertarian Sarvis was not invited.[62][63]

Tidewater Community College forum

Cuccinelli and McAuliffe appeared Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at the
Norfolk Waterside Marriott in
Norfolk, Virginia at an event hosted by
Tidewater Community College. Democrat McAuliffe argued that improving transportation would spur job creation, and he wanted to reform the
Standards of Learning and
Medicaid. Republican Cuccinelli focused on tax cuts as well as expanding opportunities for veterans and growing Virginia's ports.[64][65] Libertarian Sarvis was not invited to the event, but a spokesman provided a statement about the libertarian candidate.[66]

"Battleground Forum"

Cuccinelli and McAuliffe took the stage again on August 9, 2013, at the
Hylton Performing Arts Center in
Manassas, Virginia, hosted by the chambers of commerce from Loudoun, Prince William, Reston and Fredericksburg. Both Cuccinelli and McAuliffe answered a series of questions from representatives from each of the chambers that hosted the forum, and both were called out by the event's moderator for dodging specific questions. The sharpest exchange was between McAuliffe and the forum moderator
Derek McGinty, an anchor on
WUSA. McAuliffe declined to take a position on the proposed Bi-County Parkway, a controversial project that would cut through
Manassas National Battlefield Park to connect
Prince William and
Loudoun counties.[67] Libertarian Sarvis attended the event but was not included as a candidate,[68][69] which led some political observers, such as the
Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity's project watchdog.org, to say that the number one thing missing from the forum was the invitation to include Sarvis.[70] Four days after moderating the Battleground Forum,
WUSA-TV news anchor
Derek McGinty said Sarvis should be part of the conversation.[71]

Energy forum in Arlington

The Consumer Energy Alliance, the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, and the Virginia Manufacturers Association co-hosted a forum focused on energy with Cuccinelli and McAuliffe on August 29, 2013. Libertarian Sarvis was not invited to the forum. The event took place at the
George Mason University School of Law campus in
Arlington. Both Cuccinelli and McAuliffe launched broad attacks on one another. Cuccinelli pointed out McAuliffe's inconsistent stances on
coal and
offshore drilling (McAuliffe made anti-coal and anti-offshore drilling statements during his 2009 campaign but has attempted to take a more centrist position in 2013).[72] Cuccinelli also pointed to the GreenTech scandal enveloping McAuliffe.[72] McAuliffe offered few specifics on his own energy policy plans but attacked Cuccinelli for his lawsuit of a
Virginia Tech professor and expert on
global warming whom he investigated for fraud, and said Cuccinelli's views on social issues would drive away businesses.[72][73][74][75]

Fairfax County debate

The
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and
NBC4 hosted a debate between Cuccinelli and McAuliffe on September 25, 2013. NBC political journalist
Chuck Todd moderated. The debate was held at the Capital One Bank headquarters in
McLean, Virginia, and was aired live on NBC4 and NBC affiliates in Richmond, Charlottesville, Bristol and other Virginia cities.[76] Throughout the debate, both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli attacked their opponent's records and views. McAuliffe focused on Medicaid expansion, failed to answer a question about the price tag of his education plan, and was exposed for not knowing that a state constitutional amendment is required to reverse the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Cuccinelli focused on his experience in office, defended his social views, and dodged a question about which loopholes he would close. After the debate, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce endorsed McAuliffe.[77]

A spokesman said the debate would exclude Sarvis for "no other reason other than our tradition to provide a forum for the two major-party candidates."[78] Sarvis attended the debate and his campaign debuted a television ad, which aired in Northern Virginia.[79][80][81] The Sarvis ad caused Peter Galuszka of The Washington Post to say Sarvis "won" the debate.[82] Five days after the debate moderator
Chuck Todd invited Sarvis onto his show, The Daily Rundown, and asked Sarvis questions from the debate.[83]

Virginia Tech debate

Virginia Tech and
WDBJ sponsored a debate between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli on October 24, 2013.

Prior to the debate, Cuccinelli agreed informally to participate, though his campaign asked questions about the rules, including to raise the threshold for a third-party candidate to participate, before formally agreeing. McAuliffe also agreed to the rules.[84] Originally, the announced threshold for inclusion in the debate was ten percent in the polls.[78][84][85][86][87] Later, it would be announced the threshold for inclusion in the debate was ten percent according to the
RealClearPolitics average by the October 10 invitation deadline. On October 10, Sarvis was polling at 9% in the RealClearPolitics average, and WDBJ announced that Sarvis would not be included at the debate.[88] Sarvis responded that the debate rules were "designed to exclude."[89][90]

72% of McAuliffe's campaign contributors are from Virginia, but in the first quarter of 2013, 78% of his total funds came from donors from outside Virginia.[97] 33% of Cuccinelli's funds in the first quarter of 2013 came from donors outside Virginia.[97]

Through the first quarter of 2013 ending on March 31, 2013, McAuliffe had raised $6.7 million, and Cuccinelli had raised $4.4 million.[98]

In the second quarter of 2013, McAuliffe raised $2.2 million, Cuccinelli raised $1.1 million, and Sarvis raised approximately $2,500. Terry McAuliffe's top five donors are from outside Virginia.[92] Three of Ken Cuccinelli's top five donors are from out-of-state.[93]

From July 1, 2013 through August 31, 2013, McAuliffe raised $7,355,246; and Cuccinelli raised $5,688,222.[99] Over that period, McAuliffe received 2,010 contributions of more than $100, and 5,476 contributions of $100 or less;[100] while Cuccinelli received 3,193 contributions of more than $100, and 7,075 contributions of $100 or less.[101] During the same period, McAuliffe's biggest donations included the DGA ($2.7 million); the Virginia
League of Conservation Voters ($900,000); the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($100,000);
Laborers' International Union of North America Education Fund ($100,000); and the
United Food and Commercial Workers Active Ballot Club Education Fund ($100,000).[102] Cuccinelli's biggest donations included several energy companies and private individuals; his largest contribution over the period was $30,000.[103] As of August 31, 2013, McAuliffe's campaign has $5,010,223 cash on hand, and Cuccinelli's campaign has $2,234,369 cash on hand.

Results

Polls indicated McAuliffe would win comfortably on Election Day. However, the race was much closer than expected. Cuccinelli led for a good portion of the evening. However,
Fairfax County, a suburb of Washington D.C., is heavily Democratic, and is often one of the last parts of the state to count their votes. With around 90% of the vote McAuliffe took the lead for the first time. McAuliffe's lead continued to grow as Fairfax County came in. With 96% of the vote counted, CNN called the race for McAuliffe. At 10:06 P.M. EST, Cuccinelli called McAuliffe to concede defeat. Ralph Northam, also a Democrat, won the race for lieutenant governor, making the governor and the lieutenant governor both Democrats for the first time since 2006.

Analysis

The result was somewhat surprising because many polls showed McAuliffe with a larger margin of victory over Cuccinelli than he ended up with.[159] The Libertarian candidate was seen as having a large impact on the polls, his presence complicating them and adding "uncertainty to the ballot test". The polling for the Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General elections, which did not feature a third-party candidate, was much more accurate.[160] Although Sarvis also under-performed, his performance was among the three strongest of any Libertarian candidate running in a gubernatorial election and the best result for a third-party candidate in Virginia since
1965.[161] Exit polls showed that, contrary to conventional wisdom, Sarvis pulled far more votes from McAuliffe than Cuccinelli.[162]